Improvement in carriage-tops



N. G. BURR.

Carriage Top.

Patented Aug. 18, 1868.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NELSON G. BURR, OF HOMER, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN ARRIAG-B-IOPS.

Spemficaton forming part of Letters Patent No. 81,135, dated August 18, 1868.

T0 all whom zt may concern Be it known that I, NELSON G. BURR, of Homer, Oortland county, Stateof New York, have invented certain new and nsefnl Improvements in Carriage-Tops; and I do hereby declare the following description and accompanying drawings are sufiicient to enahle any person skilled in the art or science to which it most nearly appertains to make and use my said invention or iniprovements Withont inrther invention or experiment.

The nature of my invention and improvements consists in supporting the top of the carriage With a single bow or pair of standards, pivoted or hinged so as to be raised or lowerd, as desired; and in extending the ends of the bow or standards below the pivot on which it swings, to serve as a means of locking the bow below the pivot when the 'top is raised; and in arranging sonne swing-catches for locking the bow or standards of the top in position when it is raised; and in a lever and link to connect the sprin gcatches, so as to release them both at once when the lever is moved and in combining, with the bow or pair of standards, bars and ribs to support the covering of the top.

in the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of one side of a carriage-body with my improved top. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, as seen from the rea;r of the carriage.

In these drawings, A is the carriage body, provided with a scat, B, back rail 0, and side rails D D, supported by standards from the body, as shown in the drawings, all which parts may be constructed and arranged as shown, or in such other manner as Will answer the purpose. F F are stands fastened to the hody and to the side rails D, to support the pivots G G of the top-bow LEI, which is a single bow supporting the top-frame and top. The ends ofthe bow H are armed and strengthened with plate or sheet metal, and the bow is perforated a little way from the end for the pivots G, on which it swings as it is raised or lowered. This bow H 'extends over and across the body at a proper height for the top, and has a series of bars, 1 I, fastened across it, which bars have two or more ribs J, fastened to them, so that the bow, bars, and ribs may support the canvas or covering of the top. This top may be lowered to the position shown, when desired, and when it is raised it is lockcd by the swing-catches K K, fastened to the under side of the side rails D D. which catches catch the ends of the bow which project down below the pivots, and hold them against the shoulders on the side rails, to keep the top in position; and there is an arm, N, which extends down from each of these catches, and is fastened to the inside of the body near the bottom, and there is an arm extends up from one of the catches to form a handle, P, and the arms N N are connected by the link Q, so that by pulling the handle P toward the center of the body, it Will releasc both of the catches at once, and letthe top down to the position shown, the bow resting on the hack rail c.

Instead of a bow and bars, a top-frame may be made and two standards fastened to 'it to hold it up and work on the pivots and in case the ends of the bow or standards do not extend mach below the pivots, the catches may be arrangcd to catch above the pivots and bow and standards up with the top.

I claim- 1. Snpporting the top of a carriage with a single bow or pair et standards, substantially as described.

2. In combination with a single bow supporting the top of the carriage, the stands to which the bow is pivoted, so as to be raised or lowcred.

3. Hanging the single bow or pair of standards which support the top of the carriage on pivots, so that it may be raised or lowered, as desired.

4. Extending the ends of the bow beyond the pivots on which it swings, to serve as a means of locking the bow below the pivot when the top is'raised, substantially as described.

5. The swing-catches for locking the bow or standards of the top in position when it is raised.

6. In combination with the spring-catches K K, the lever or handle and the link Q, which connects the catches, so as to release them both at once by moving the lever or handle P.

7. In combination with the single bow supporting the top, the bars 1 I and ribs J, which support the covering, substantially as described.

NELSON G. BURR. Witnesses:

J. DENNIS, Jr., WM. DENNIS. 

